Something Odd, Very Odd...

[musotechy]

Hi All,

If you could help in any way, it would be much appreciated. Here goes...

I have an AVI (downloaded) which I am attempting to convert via TMPGEnc. Width is 640 and hieght is 465, duration is 1 hour 25 minutes, bitrate is 127kbp/s, audio format is MPEG layer3. Framerate is 25 frames/second, data rate is 137kbp/s, video sample size is 24 bit and the video compression is DIVXMPG4 V3.

I load up TMPGEnc, load the file and leave most of the settings as default. I have the rate control set to 2 pass VBR and I change the max bitrate to 6000kbp/s, average to 4000kbp/s and lowest bitrate to 3500kbp/s. On the advanced tab I make sure that I have the aspect ratio set to full(keep aspect ratio) That's the only changes I make. I click next and it takes me to the screen where it tells me the size and bitrate of the output file. Suddenly my file has increased from being 1 hour 25 minutes long to 232 minutes and a file output size of 7434.80mb's and 177.02% disk space. It still says that the average bitrate is 4000kbp/s. To get this file down to size, the bitrate has to be reduced to just under 2000kbp/s which is no good to anyone. I have experienced this before with another file but ended up throwing it away.

If anyone has any ideas or possible solutions, I would be most grateful.

(Sorry for the long winded details but I thought it may help)

Thanks For You Time.

[musotechy]

Quick I know but I think I have now solved it. After I have loaded the file I click next, on that second page I put a tick in the 'source range box' I then manually select the start and end frames (making them exactly the same as they were anyway) This has now given me the size I am used to (approx 2500mb)

Sorry if you were in the middle of typing a solution but thanks anyway.


Cheers

[MOVIEGEEK]

If that doesn't work you might convert the MP3 audio to WAV first.

[mats.hogberg]

Yup, this is caused by a VBR audio track. TMPGEnc gets confused. Extract audio and convert to wav before encoding.

/Mats

[ricky1756]

its agood idea to send it thru divfix and then virtual dub(direct stream copy) i find it takes care of some errors, and always helps tmpenc re-encode much faster

[musotechy]

Thanks for the help, I thought I had solved the problem which was down to a rogue sound file. However, 50% into the encoding TMPGEnc chucked up a stream writing error. Can anyone help explain how and what I use to extract the audio to wav.


Many Thanks

[MOVIEGEEK]

Thanks for the help, I thought I had solved the problem which was down to a rogue sound file. However, 50% into the encoding TMPGEnc chucked up a stream writing error. Can anyone help explain how and what I use to extract the audio to wav.


Many Thanks

In TMPGEnc exit out of wizard then import the AVI into the Audio Source box->File->Output to file->WAVE file.

[musotechy]

Update,


Run the file through DIVFix and it worked a treat. Saved to a new file and checked it, working fine picture and sound are top notch. Run the file through TMPGEnc and created two seperate files (MV2 + MP2) Changed the MP2 extension to MPA and loaded the files into IfoEdit and authored a new DVD. Loaded VOB's and BUP's into Nero. Put the burnt disc into the set-top and the picture quality is top notch but no sound at all. Checked the whole disc at various intervals but nothing, not even a hiss.

Any suggestions and possible fixes please.

Many Thanks For Your Time.

[RabidDog]

play the mp2 in winamp to check it. never delete intermediate files. multiplex the mpg and mp2 files using tmpgenc.

[MOVIEGEEK]

If the audio plays fine on your PC using PowerDVD or WinDVD then you either need to Get VTS sectors in IFOEDIT or use the language button on your remote.

Guide:http://mpucoder.kewlhair.com/Derrow/calcsec.html

[DJRumpy]

MOVIEGEEK, IFOEdit is used on DVD files, not Divx/XviD.

musotechy, you need to extract the audio from the DivX file as a WAV file. Do this with VirtualDub. Set your audio menu to 'Full Processing Mode'. From the FILE menu, select 'File | Save WAV'. When prompted, input a filename for your new WAV file, and save it to the same folder as the source AVI (for conveniance).

At this point, you can either cut a new copy of the AVI, WITHOUT the audio, by setting the AUDIO menu to 'No Audio'. Set your VIDEO menu to 'Direct Stream Copy', and save a new AVI ( FILE | SAVE AVI ). This is the method I would suggest. It is VERY fast, taking only a few minuites. You'll end up with an AVI that contains VIDEO only. If you don't have the space, or you simply don't want to wait a few more minutes, you can simply try feeding the AVI (with existing audio) to TMPGenc, but specify your new WAV file as the audio input.

[musotechy]

Many thanks for your help, and that goes for everyone. You guy's make the frustration a whole lot easier.


Cheers

[Gazorgan]

MP2 isn't a standard audio format for NTSC land. It should work in PAL land. It should also work on most new players either way, it's jsut not in the specs. Take the WAVE and convert it to AC5.1, use BeSweet. In Fact, you should use BeSweet to do the audio in the first place, it does a better job than TMPG. Alternately leave it as PCM since you have the space to do so.

[DJRumpy]

Converting a stereo WAV to AC3 5.1 gains you nothing except wasted space. My opinion, stick with 2 channel AC3. The increase in size for 2 empty rear channels doesn't make sense. There are software packages which claim to 'recreate' the 5.1 sound, but they typically mix audio from the stereo tracks, into the rear channels. It's not true 5.1, and doesn't sound any better. It also increases your bitrate needs to maintain the same level of audio quality (each channel uses some bitrate..more channels..more bitrate).

MP2 is supported as an optional audio format in NTSC land, as long as the first track is either AC3, or PCM audio. I know that my dvd authoring software package (spruceup) makes my disc compliant for me automatically, allowing me to use MP2 if I so choose, while creating a fully compliant disc. Examine your DVD contents, and you may find a small clip (vob), created by your authoring software, usually less than a second long, and with empty PCM or AC3 audio, which technically makes the disc fully compliant.

[Gazorgan]

I'm going to strangle the next AC3/AC5.1 reference person :P

Normally when I say AC3 I mean 2 channel and AC5.1 I mean 5+1. Unfortunately a lot of people think AC3 is Dolby surround. Blah.

By complient I also mean the dam thing will play. My Apex will play anything but a DviX file. A lot of DVD Players don't like a DVD with MP2 audio, which is bizzare because most will play SVCD's, so go figure?

musotechy: Fire that puppy up with MP2 and see if it plays. If not use BeSweet and make a 2-channel AC3 audio track. If your really bored, put both on the DVD and compare

[MOVIEGEEK]

"MOVIEGEEK, IFOEdit is used on DVD files, not Divx/XviD. "

I meant musotechy should Get VTS sectors after authoring a DVD with IFOEDIT so the disk plays properly.

[DJRumpy]

That's only necessary when the VTS sectors have changed. As long as they author with DVD authoring software, and they do not modify the VOB's after the fact, IFOEdit isn't necessary at all.

Gazorgan, by placing '5.1' next to AC3 (or AC in your case), I got the impression you meant 5.1 surround sound, not two channel ( 2/0, 2/2 3/0, 3/2 or 5.1 ). Lots to choose from... 8).